Prescott Public Library
🏢 City of Prescott · Yavapai Library Network · Prescott, Arizona
Prescott Public Library
In a town that calls itself "Everybody's Hometown" and home of the World's Oldest Rodeo, the Prescott Public Library has been the community's intellectual heart since 1903 — now drawing nearly half a million visitors a year to its Founders Suite Arizona-history room, the Granite Mountain Hotshots digital archive, and two floors of collections two blocks from Courthouse Plaza.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 215 E Goodwin Street, Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone: (928) 777-1500
Website: prescottlibrary.info
Plus Code: 8569GGQM+R9 (Prescott, AZ)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Prescott Public Library
Prescott Public Library has served Arizona's original territorial capital since the Monday Club secured a $8,242 Carnegie grant and opened the state's first Carnegie library on November 24, 1903, at 125 E. Gurley St. The city took over the formerly private institution in 1917, and groundbreaking for the current building at 215 E. Goodwin St. took place on March 11, 1973; it opened May 18, 1975, with 70,000 volumes. A $6 million expansion in 2006 doubled the building's footprint to roughly 38,892 sq ft. Today the library draws nearly half a million visitors a year to its two floors of collections, the Founders Suite Arizona-history reading room, a teen zone, and community meeting rooms. Through the Yavapai Library Network — a consortium of 57+ libraries — cardholders access more than 1.3 million physical and digital resources.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Arizona's first Carnegie library (1903): the original building at 125 E. Gurley St. was the first Carnegie-funded library in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Founders Suite — a dedicated Arizona-history reading room on the main floor, housing territorial newspapers, Yavapai County records, and Prescott city directories dating to the 1880s
- Granite Mountain Hotshots digital archive — more than 10,380 tribute items left at Fire Station 7 after the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, digitized in 2014 with the Arizona Memory Project
- 'Beyond Words' community mural (2009) — painted by Mural Mice with 800+ community participants, tracing Prescott's history from territorial days to the present day
- Nearly half a million annual visits to a 38,892 sq ft building two blocks from historic Courthouse Plaza, with free parking in the adjacent city lot
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Prescott cardholders access free digital resources through the Yavapai Library Network and Arizona statewide programs:
📚 Services
- Founders Suite Arizona-history reading room with specialist librarian (territorial newspapers, county records, city directories from the 1880s)
- Genealogy databases: Ancestry Library Edition (in-library), HeritageQuest Online (remote), Fold3 (military records)
- Public computers: adult workstations (2nd floor), children's computers (1st floor), teen computers (Teen Zone, 2nd floor)
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building and parts of the grounds
- Black-and-white printing (10¢/page), color printing (50¢/page), MobilePrint remote upload
- Scanning and self-service fax machine (2nd floor)
- Meeting rooms and community spaces for reservation by community groups
- Study rooms on main and upper floors
- YLN shared catalog with holds and transit among 57+ network libraries
🎸 Programs
- Storytime — several mornings per week for toddlers and preschoolers
- Summer Reading Program for children, teens, and adults (May–July)
- Author talks and literary events for adults
- Genealogy mentoring sessions
- Computer skills classes for adults
- Water conservation seminars and science/astronomy presentations
- Community book clubs
- Trivia nights
📍 Nearby Libraries in Yavapai County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Founders Suite, and what can I find there?
The Founders Suite is a dedicated Arizona-history reading room on the main floor of the library. It holds territorial newspapers, Yavapai County records, and Prescott city directories dating to the 1880s. A specialist librarian staffs the reference desk to assist researchers exploring Prescott's pioneer and territorial past.
What is the library's connection to the Granite Mountain Hotshots?
After 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters died in the June 30, 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, members of the public left thousands of tributes at Fire Station 7 in Prescott. Beginning in 2013, library volunteers photographed every flag, artwork, and letter. In 2014, in partnership with the Arizona Memory Project, the library launched a digital archive of more than 10,380 tribute items — preserving the community's grief and gratitude for future generations.
Is the original 1903 Carnegie library still open to the public?
No. The original Carnegie library — the first in Arizona — stood at 125 E. Gurley St. and served Prescott until 1974. That building is now used as office space and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The current library opened at 215 E. Goodwin St. on May 18, 1975, and was expanded in 2006 to roughly 38,892 sq ft.
Can I access genealogy and digital resources from home?
Yes. Yavapai County residents with a library card can access Libby (eBooks/audiobooks), hoopla (movies, music, comics), Kanopy (film streaming), HeritageQuest (census and family histories), and Fold3 (military records) from home 24/7. Ancestry Library Edition requires an in-library visit. Arizona's statewide DAZL databases — magazines, journals, newspapers — are also available remotely.
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